Rep. Mark Lepak

Maddy summaryHB 1539 lowers Oklahoma's individual income tax rates for the 2024 tax year. It reduces the top tax rate from 5.50% to 4.75% for most filers, with new brackets starting at 0.25% on the first $1,000 of income (e.g., 0.75% on the next $1,500 for single filers). The bill affects all Oklahoma residents and nonresidents who file individual income tax returns, applying to taxable income earned in 2024. The change eliminates the previous tiered top rate structure and requires no deduction for federal income taxes paid.

Maddy summaryHB 1539 reduces Oklahoma's top individual income tax rate from 5.50% to 4.75% for taxable years beginning January 1, 2024, and beyond. It directly affects all Oklahoma residents and nonresidents filing individual income tax returns, applying the new rate to income above specific thresholds (e.g., $7,250 for single filers and $12,850 for married joint filers). The bill revises tax brackets to lower the top marginal rate while keeping lower brackets unchanged, with the reduction contingent on a State Board of Equalization determination. This change lowers tax liability for most higher-income earners under the current structure.

Maddy summaryHB 2299, the "Dr. Tom Coburn Act," establishes rules for Oklahoma's delegates to Article V conventions, which propose amendments to the U.S. Constitution. It defines key roles like "commissioner" (a state delegate) and "commission" (the legislative resolution setting delegate authority), and prohibits delegates from exceeding their assigned duties - violating this would be a felony. The bill also criminalizes bribery, threats, or obstruction of delegates during conventions, with penalties including felony charges. It takes effect on November 1, 2025, directly affecting Oklahoma's convention delegates and anyone interfering with their duties.

Maddy summarySB 1065 raises the maximum compensation limit for pain and suffering (noneconomic damages) in personal injury cases from $350,000 to $500,000. It directly affects plaintiffs injured by negligence who seek compensation for non-monetary harms like pain, disfigurement, or loss of companionship. The bill allows exceeding the cap only if a jury finds the defendant acted with reckless disregard, gross negligence, fraud, or intentional malice - requiring specific findings on the misconduct type. This law applies to all bodily injury cases filed after November 1, 2025, and does not affect government tort claims or wrongful death cases.

Maddy summarySB 419 amends Oklahoma statute 74 O.S. 2021, Section 18c to authorize the State Treasurer to directly employ or appoint attorneys for legal representation. Previously, the State Treasurer was excluded from entities allowed to hire attorneys under this section, which now explicitly includes them. The bill updates statutory language and references while maintaining existing provisions for other state entities like the Corporation Commission and Oklahoma Tax Commission. It takes effect November 1, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 835 requires Oklahoma state licensing boards (called "qualifying boards") with majority market participants to submit proposed actions likely to harm competition - such as license suspensions, revocations, or decisions based on competitor complaints - to the Secretary of State for review. The Secretary must confirm if the action enforces a clear state policy within 60 days, and the board must follow their recommendation or face member removal for misconduct. Actions without anticompetitive effects - like consented decisions, criminal convictions, mandatory statute implementations, or fines - do not require review. The bill takes effect November 1, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 1065 increases Oklahoma's cap on non-monetary damages (like pain and suffering) for bodily injury cases from $350,000 to $500,000 per plaintiff. It directly affects plaintiffs in personal injury lawsuits and defendants facing liability for bodily harm. The bill removes this cap only when a court finds, by clear evidence, that the defendant acted with reckless disregard, gross negligence, fraud, or intentional malice. It also requires courts to specify in judgments the split between economic damages (like lost wages and medical costs) and noneconomic damages, and prohibits jury instructions about the cap during trials. The changes apply to civil actions filed on or after November 1, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 1042 removes a restriction requiring Oklahoma's Governor to appoint board members for speech-language pathology and audiology solely from a list provided by the Oklahoma Speech-Language-Hearing Association. The bill changes the appointment process to allow the Governor to consider recommendations from any statewide organization representing these professionals, including national chapters or other qualified groups. This affects how the Governor selects members for the Board of Examiners, which oversees licensing for speech-language pathologists and audiologists. The change takes effect November 1, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 1042 amends Oklahoma law to remove a limitation preventing the Governor from considering recommendations from professional organizations when appointing members to the Board of Examiners for Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology. The bill allows the Governor to factor in suggestions from groups like the Oklahoma Speech-Language-Hearing Association when selecting board members, who must include three licensed professionals (with specific specialty requirements), one otolaryngologist, and one lay member. This procedural change, effective November 1, 2025, streamlines the appointment process without altering licensing standards or public-facing policies.

Maddy summaryThis Oklahoma bill creates a tax credit program to encourage converting old, vacant buildings into housing. Property owners can claim up to 50% of qualified costs (like environmental cleanup, code upgrades, or system repairs) for adaptive reuse projects on structures at least 30 years old that have been vacant or underutilized (with rent below 50% of market rate). The program has a $5 million annual cap on approved credits, with unused funds carried forward to future years. Credits cannot reduce tax liability below zero but may be carried forward for up to 10 years. The Oklahoma Department of Commerce and Tax Commission will administer the program and prioritize projects based on local housing needs.